YEARS AGO FOR JULY 26

Today is Wednesday, July 26, the 207th day of 2017. There are 158 days left in the year.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

On this date in:

1847: The western African country of Liberia, founded by freed American slaves, declares its independence.

1945: The Potsdam Declaration warns Imperial Japan to unconditionally surrender or face “prompt and utter destruction.”

1947: President Harry S. Truman signs the National Security Act, which reorganized America’s armed forces and creates the Central Intelligence Agency.

1971: Apollo 15 is launched from Cape Kennedy on America’s fourth successful manned mission to the moon.

1992: Singer Mary Wells dies in Los Angeles at 49.

2007: Wall Street suffers one of its worst losses, closing down 311.50 or 2.26 percent, to 13,473.57.

2016: Hillary Clinton becomes the first woman to be nominated for president by a major political party at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

VINDICATOR FILES

1992: Control of the SharonSteel Foundation has been returned to Shenango Valley interests. During the years that Victor Posner controlled the foundation, the funds were distributed to Miami, Fla., charities.

Making good on a campaign promise, Niles Mayor Ralph Infante is pursuing creation of a municipally owned cable television system. TCI Cablevision of Ohio, which has 6,700 customers in Niles, is planning a resistance effort but doesn’t intend to “go to war” with the city.

The Bavarian Fun Fest opens in downtown Sharon, but without bungee jumping from a crane after the state of Pennsylvania cracks down on bungee operators, demanding that they meet certain safety standards.

1977: Tim and Karen Barnes are the parents of triplet girls born at North Side Hospital – Sheli Lynn, Sheri Lynn and Sherli Lynn, all born within 10 minutes.

A state hydrologist tells a group of Hubbard-Bedford Road residents that the city of Hubbard can go ahead with plans to drill a new well and that they would have no recourse if their wells were to run dry.

The unbeaten Greentree Realty team is champion of the Mustang Division of the Boardman Youth Baseball League. Team members are Vince Kohl, Jim Reilly, Jim Ciambotti, David Motsinger, Rick Cunat, Tim Leetch, Jeff Watts, Rob Motsinger, Dan Kohl, Jeff Jones, Dave Ford, Mark Popovich, Paul Kovach, Chris Economus and Gil Prokop. Coaches were Dave Leetch and Joe Pecchia. Lou Kreider was manager.

1967: Youngstown-born Martin J. Hillenbrand is named by President Lyndon Johnson as the first American ambassador to communist Hungary.

Thomas Patrick of Youngstown is appointed director of training by Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co.

Youngstown University’s former presidential home at 444 Wick Ave., previously occupied by retired university President Howard Jones, is being converted into administrative offices.

1942: Eager to give Uncle Sam’s fighting forces the tools they need to fight the war, Mahoning County residents have bought $4.8 million worth of war bonds as of June 1.

A large addition to the William B. Pollock Co. is nearing completion and will provide jobs for about 300. The plant is swamped with orders for blast-furnace repairs, ladle cars and other equipment.

The Youngstown YMCA has received donations of musical equipment, including violins, a banjo and record players, to send to American soldiers in prison camps.